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Katherine Keating has slipped quietly back into Australia as her old acquaintance Prince Andrew continues to grapple with the fallout of his ties to their mutual friend, convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Ms Keating, 44, was pictured having lunch with her father, former prime minister Paul Keating, in Sydney on Sunday. Surprisingly, Mr Keating, who filled Australia's highest office from 1991 to 1996, was driving a dusty Peugeot 205 GTi two-door hatchback for the father-daughter outing. The ex-PM dropped her off at a five-star hotel in Sydney's CBD following their meal. The Labor Party firebrand was dressed casually in a checked, short-sleeved shirt and a cap, while Katherine wore a sleeveless black turtleneck, jeans and carried a blazer. Last month, Katherine broke her silence on her ties with Andrew - who was recently stripped of his titles by King Charles - and disgraced late financier Epstein. The Mail on Sunday revealed on October 26 that Epstein had asked Andrew to arrange a dinner with Ms Keating in New York, where she had recently moved. In an email dated February 16, 2011 – part of The Epstein Files currently being reviewed by the U.S. Congress – Epstein wrote to Andrew saying: 'Would you ask Katherine Keating if she would like to come for dinner with Woody Allen next week in New York?' to which the former prince replied: 'Will do.' Two days later, on the eve of Andrew's 51st birthday, Epstein wrote: 'What will you do tomorrow? Sorry I cannot be there as you get older.' Andrew responded: 'Having a very quiet day. But a dinner party in the evening. On the Keating case.' Socialite Ms Keating, who was 29 at the time, recently confirmed that Andrew 'fixed' her 2011 dinner with Epstein. 'I did attend a February dinner at Andrew's invitation – a large social event,' she said. Katherine was famously recorded waving goodbye to Andrew two months earlier when he stayed at Epstein's New York mansion and the financier hosted another dinner. That video did not surface publicly until 2019. 'It was a large social event. A sizable chunk of NY society was there, including [American broadcasters] Barbara Walters, Charlie Rose and Katie Couric,' she said. 'At the time, I had only lived in NY about ten weeks, and was happy to accept the odd social invitation.' It is not suggested that Ms Keating engaged in, or had any knowledge of, any improper or illegal conduct by Epstein or any of his associates. Andrew told BBC journalist Emily Maitlis during his infamous Newsnight interview that he had visited Epstein in New York to break off contact. The pair were pictured in Central Park together during that visit. Despite those claims, Andrew continued to keep in touch with Epstein, promising to 'play some more soon' in one 2011 email. It is not known how Ms Keating came into Andrew's orbit. Some reports have suggested she was friends with Andrew's friend and Epstein's 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving 20 years for sex trafficking. But given Epstein's 2008 conviction in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a person under 18, many Australians back home were left wondering what on earth Katherine was thinking by visiting his home. At the time, she had been living in New York with her then-boyfriend, millionaire hotelier André Balazs, and both appeared to be acquaintances of Epstein's partner-in-crime Maxwell, who was jailed in 2021. Sometime after establishing herself in the Big Apple, she traded her east coast lifestyle for the bright lights of Los Angeles. According to property records, she lived in a US$2.5million (AU$3.77million) home in Laurel Canyon, a leafy Hollywood Hills enclave that towers above Sunset Boulevard. It was minutes from the home of her sister, Alexandra Keating, and Alexandra's husband Rupert Sanders - a Hollywood film director. However, when Daily Mail visited the address in August, the house was empty - and it is understood Ms Keating may have recently moved to London. She is listed as the managing director of Keating Company International, which, according to LinkedIn, 'delivers a wide range of strategic services including policy monitoring, political engagement strategy, influence development, and legislative and regulatory tracking'. It also 'advises international organisations, governments, and businesses in a host of industries including energy, transport and aviation, media and entertainment'. The company is listed as New York-based, but public records also link it to Katherine's Los Angeles address. Her LinkedIn states she lives in Beverly Hills. In July this year, however, she registered Keating Company at Companies House in the UK, citing a nondescript business address in London. When Katherine was identified as the mystery woman at Epstein's home, her sister appeared to distance herself from the scandal. 'I'm not Katherine!' Alexandra told photographers at her home in 2019. Despite this, the siblings - who, along with Caroline and Patrick Keating, are the children from Paul's marriage to ex-wife Annita van Iersel - appear incredibly close. So too are Mr Keating and Katherine, if their cosy weekend lunch is anything to go by. Witnesses said Mr Keating's phone was 'running hot' during his outing with his daughter - perhaps due to the death of Labor powerbroker Graham Richardson, who passed away on Saturday aged 76. In a statement on Sunday, Mr Keating said: 'Graham was a working-class intellectual and Labor loyalist. He served the Labor Party administratively and well and went on to become a very effective senator. 'Labor in government took Graham on to important and senior ministerial roles including the environment and health, roles in which he distinguished himself. 'Possessing a sharp political mind, Graham shone in political comment, as he joined the commentariat at various news outlets over an extended period. 'He could always discern the big picture from the dross, such that his comment possessed weight and wisdom. He was always well-read and listened to. My condolences go to his wife, Amanda, son Darcy and wider family.' New to DailyMail+? Here are our most-read stories from the last week YouTube star Spanian speaks on his sudden marriage split AND new love in cryptic interview with the Daily Mail that his mates tried to shut down I left my husband for the love of my life - and then he did something that utterly humiliated me: ASK JANA
